Happy Day after Christmas...

Angelo once said to me, 25 years ago today, in the little town of Caltanissetta, Italy
 in the cutest broken English I've ever heard,
 "Happy Day after Christmas!!!

It's one of those sweet memories that will be forever engraved in my heart, mind and soul!

I can still see him standing there in my minds eye, and because he really meant what he said,
 is exactly why it has stayed with me all these years and every day after Christmas,
that phrase pops into my mind, and I smile and cry at the same time! I loved my mission! 

(some times....)

just like every missionary, some days were great and some were not so much!

Anyway,

we had a nice 2013 Christmas...

I have to admit, that I have been feeling quite like the Grinch since Halloween,

I wasn't really ready for all the hoopla that sometime can come with Christmas,

I just wanted it to be as simple and as sweet as it should be.

So, I didn't start decorating immediately,

(as I've done in years past!)

I slowly picked the things I wanted to pull out as decorations,

I wanted it to feel more rustic and more Christ-like, and it did to me!

The kids seem to enjoy what they received,

 Kurt and I have never gone overboard with giving them gifts galore,

so, I feel very lucky because they are always grateful for what they get...

Yes,
I'm sure, they sometimes wish they were getting all the new electrical gadget that all there friends get...
but,
 they don't seem to complain about it, at least not to my face, or they would be adding a new shiner to their list of gifts,
something I'm sure there friends wouldn't even think about asking Santa for! ha, ha.

I got a new phone with big buttons so I can actually see it,
being able to see is kind-of important to me!

which,

was a complete surprise, since I didn't ask for one, I've dropped my old phone so many times that it had these two big black dots on the screen,  but I just thought it added more character to my phone,
it still worked, kind-of, it started dropping calls and text messages...

anyway,
 Christmas morning I hear this phone ringing in the garland on top of the mantle,

all the kids of course, are acting surprised and saying "mom, you better go check it out"

so, of course, I did, and of course, it was a nice nifty new phone,

now,

 it's just going to take me forever to figure it all out!

 but, I ain't complaining!!!! 

I'll leave you with a few photo's of our day!

Lynzie and I had a good story to remember about our p.j.'s this year....
we'll save that story for another day!

Kurt got a lot of clothes that he needed,
but
 lets just pre-tend that he is such a sexy model and sooo photogenic that it just wouldn't be right to show them all to ya. One is enough!

Spencer got some new shoes, 

(will his feet ever stop growing! If anyone needs to barrow some backwoods snowshoes,

 you can barrow his new tennis shoes, they're grey with a beautiful blue color!)

and a gun with a scope...everyone needs one of those, right?

Lynzie gave this to Caitlyn...it said,

"Exercise, I thought you said Accessorize!!!!

Truer words could not have been spoken about our little fashionista!
of course,
our little shoe-horse added a few new pairs of boots to her collection,
and a computer for all the studying that she will be doing in college.

and Candice spent her time with both families, (I didn't get a picture of her)
 we did give her a portable esthetics/message table! HOORAY!!!
and a new vacuum,
Spencer was trying to give her a hint of what it was, he kept saying, "your gift really sucks"!
 I asked her if she wanted to try it out to see if it worked/sucked on my rugs
but
she declined!!!

Lynzie got a real pink basketball, at first I thought Caitlyn was so excited for her,
but,
 then upon further examination....
she is yawning!!!
 hey, don't judge folks,
 apparently it's like really, really early.... like 7:30 am!!!!

she got cute clothes, cuz, #1- she is a girl and
#2- because she keeps growing!
she also got a computer too.

I didn't take a lot of pictures this year, as we were just laughing and enjoying being in the moment.
We hope ya'all had a Merry Christmas with a re-newed love for Our Savior.




P.S. remember how I was feeling a little grinchy this year, well, I didn't get my Christmas cards sent out just yet....
so now, they will be New Years Cards instead!

love ya.

You better watch out, and you better not pout....

 I got the awesome opportunity to sit on Santa's lap a few weekends ago..... 

it was a magical experience, 

one that doesn't happen every year, in fact, I think I sat on ole' St. Nick's lap about 15 years ago,

 but, 

this one was just a little extra special to me....

CUZ, THIS CUTE OLE' ST. NICK JUST HAPPENED TO BE... 

MY DAD!!!

(one is never to old to sit on Santa's lap.)

He's since clean shaven again, dang-it!

Memories!!!

THE BEGINNING OF OUR YEAR...

well, well, well,

look who's back!

Life has been busy,

but

I was having some blog issues,

it's been hard not to document the happenings of our lives,

because I've wanted too so badly,

I hate not being able to write things down, cuz life changes quickly around here,

blogging and journaling and keeping track of it all makes me feel grounded,

I don't want to miss the big and little things

and there has been quite a few...

I'm just glad my blog troubles our behind us.

It's been snowing like crazy

and Candice is snow crazy, poor girl, she just wants some sunshine,

she just graduated last week with her Master Estitician

getting ready to take her state boards and is going to start job hunting,

somewhere where the sun shines...

Caitlyn is taking her state boards too. (finally!!!)

she been having a little bit of a lazy hiatus lately,

and

 taking full advantage of Candice's estitician services,

we all have! and it's been quite nice.

Spencer is doing good.
he says black when i say white,
and white when I say black!
it's making me crazy
 but
i guess that's his way of gaining his own opinion...
or something like that!

and little Lynzie, isn't so little anymore...

she is almost so close to being taller than Candice and Caitlyn,

she's going to be my tallest girl, I'm so proud,

Candice and Caitlyn are little pipsqeeks, I don't know why!

Kurt and I are just working...

at our jobs, at our green smoothie making, at parenting, at our relationship, at our church callings,

we just celebrated 

our 22nd anniversary!

The holidays were nice...

we celebrated and decorated
which included a little Harris family party...
we ate and laughed
 and made gingerbread houses,  it was amazing to see the creativity of the kids
and how they're personalities came through...
enjoying each other is what holidays are all about.
(We missed Dave & Kristen, but they were enjoying knee surgery and preparing to welcome baby Crew!)

We are just trying to survive this Utah weather,
it's weird!
we're not use to the cold, snowy, cloudy, inversion in the air,
it seems just like everyone else around here we've been sick a lot.
uggg!
A sunny state seems pretty good right now to us...

So,
just a few thoughts to get us caught up
and that's what'z been happening around here in a nutshell.

.Temple Square.

We went to an early dinner at Olive Garden and then headed to Temple Square

we couldn't have picked a better night to go,

it was a few days after Christmas and the weather was warm!!!

walking around the grounds is a combination between magical and spiritual,

add a little bit of silliness too...

I love when Lynzie says such things as;

"touch everything you can, cuz President Monson has probably touched it too."

I counted 4 other guys, walking around in shorts too!!! ha.

see, Spencer isn't the only hot-blooded boy in Utah!

to be continued...

.Christmas 2011...

the kids woke up early and we let them open one present and there stockings....

we saved the rest of the gift for later that day.

Each Christmas

is one that holds memories and traditions and each picture is a reminder of both,

I love Christmas', memories, traditions and taking pictures,

but

this Christmas seemed extra special for us,

one, because it was on Sunday

(I wish Christmas was on Sunday every year!)

and two...

BOTH, our parents were able to be with us!!!!

that's never happened!

my mom and dad came up early Sunday morning and came to church with us,

while Kurt was at the airport picking up his mom...

my parents looked so cute in there Christmas clothes,

and I had a hard time just sitting there singing,

my heart was full with the Spirit of Christmas and being able to share it with my parents was almost an over-load...

Lynzie sang with the primary and I sang with the choir again,

the songs we sang about our Savior were so beautiful,

it really was a perfect day.

we came home from church, changed our clothes, some of us back into our p.j.'s

we gorged ourselves on a big turkey/ham dinner,

and finished opening our presents with grandparents....

our big family present this year was a flat screen T.V. hooray, hooray!!!

and we gave the kids $$$ this year,

which the kids loved!

it was fun for them to wake up on Monday and shop all day with there Christmas money.

grandma jean gave each of the kids the cutest jars full of coins,

we had so much fun trying to count all the money.....

who would of thought???

amazingly each jar held $20 bucks.

Spencer got a loft bed, one of the best inventions ever!

wish we had got him one sooner.

Christmas morningALWAYScomes too early for the tired weary parents....

we really had a nice Christmas this year,

as always

but

this year seemed extra special.

to be continued....

.Christmas Eve....

We live in one of thee best neighborhoods and,

were invited to a Christmas Eve party with a few families in our ward,

we had a delightful time,

fabulous food, wonderful white elephant gifts,

lots of laughter and a phony game of phase ten.

(trophys were even involved)

then....

later in the evening

we snuck back home for the annual opening of the pajama's....

and to wait for Santa, of course...

to be continued....

planning ahead which takes me back to memory lane...

With the holidays upon us, I've been thinking...... (I know, right!)

Christmas falls on Sunday this year,

remember last time it fell on Sunday, about 7 years ago....

I do,

I remember it well, it was one of my favorite Christmas'

because,

we called Santa that year and asked if He could come on Saturday

instead of Christmas Sunday,

and of course,

he was happy to do so cuz that would mean one less chimney he had to shimmy down

and he appreciated all the time he saved that night...

and,

we were happy cuz we woke up Saturday morning

and opened all our gifts and played and played all day long,

and then....

when we woke up on Sunday Christmas Morning,

we ate a delicious breakfast

got ready for church

and we were able to feel the spirit all day and enjoy what Christmas is really all about!

so,

yep,

you guessed it,

we are doing it again this year too,

(along with something else we've never tried before).

and we're excited.

I've already made the call into Santa and he's all on board,

he even asked if we could tell our family and friends cuz it makes it so much easier on him,

and then....

Santa will be able to enjoy his Christmas Sunday too!

We are just trying to come down from our Christmas high....

Christmas was great, and I'm so glad Santa actually made it to our house...

altho, as we were sitting around the table eating Christmas dinner we all

(well, all of us except Lynzie, she was having no part of it!)

decided that next year we're going to adopt a Christmas family and fore go some of our presents, and then go shopping after Christmas and hit all the 75 percent off sales and pick up a little something for each other...

my kids are at the age where we can do that now!

Christmas day was a beautiful day with presents, family, food and fun,

then, later that evening we went to a baptism,

Have you every been to a baptism on Christmas day?

well, it just kind-of wraps things up for ya in a nice little spiritual package with a great big red bow on top!

We took Arik with us and it's always nice to share the spirit with others.

then, of course,

the next day was Sunday and we had our Christmas program in church,

I sang in the choir and was so uplifted to sing such beautiful songs all about our Savior and the icing on the cake for me was hearing Candice play the flute as we sang....

let's just say, it really doesn't get better than that!

I've still been humming the songs and get all goosey-bumped,

with a tear in my left eye,

every time I thing about it...

Candice is amazing, and she doesn't even know it.

so, of course,

yesterday was our day of just trying to relax, playing the x-box 360,

riding electric scooters, playing 'just dance2' and of course staying in our p.j.'s all day,

while all the while, smelling really good from all our yummy lotions and sugar scrubs from Santa!

it.was.nice.

but, today we are up and at 'em again,

all showered, shampooed, and shined!

I'm taking down Christmas decorations,

I've taken down 2 of my tree's, but I'll leave the big one up just for a few more days.

Kurt is sitting at Olive Garden in Tennessee, as we speak,

eating lunch with his mom, grandma, and his two sisters,

they drove out from Virginia,

just one of the perks of being able to drive yourself across the country in a big green truck!

wow, it's 2:20, time to go feed my kids lunch!

bye.

Luke 2:15

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Matthew 2:11

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

(this got me thinking of what "gift" I could give the Savior when I see him again,

thats when my missionary memories came flooding back, and just wanting to be that much better as a parent,

remembering that there really is no greater gift than,

helping others come to known their Savior and to feel of His love!)

Luke 2:16

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

I opened my last gift of the baby Jesus this morning,

Isn't it the sweetest manger set, it really is, I wish you could see it up close,

all the expressions on there little faces are so sweet...

Thank you Amy and Shona for the true gift of Christmas.

I'm grateful for the birth of our Savior...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

.

swaddling...

Believe it or not....

I'm almost done with Christmas shopping,

the last 2 days I've been able to knock it out,

it's been fun to shop at midnight,

there are enough others shoppers so it's not scary to be there in the middle of the night,

but

not so many people that it's Christmas crazy and your waiting in long lines...

altho, I did have a thought through all the craziness,

we need to start a "movement" and get Christmas back to were it should be....

it's stressful and I'm sure I'm not the only parent that thinks it's stressful in trying to come up with all the extra time, and money....

not to sound like The Grinch' but it's all become too commercialized

just like every other holiday in this country.

I love simple and sweet...

speaking of,

let's end on a simple, sweet spiritual note,

my gift this morning was another

*wiseman,

and I let Lynzie open this one, she was just as touched as I have been,

Luke 2:11-12

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

(I totally got chocked up reading this one.)

I learned something about swaddling this year that I wanted to share with you;

During Biblical times after a baby was born it was washed,
rubbed with salt then oil and lastly swaddled. Swaddling was accomplished by tying strips of cloth together and then wrapping them around the baby to restrict movement. Swaddling kept the child warm, and it was thought that it also ensured that the baby would grow strong without deformity. Because of this a swaddled baby took on the metaphor of being a loved and cared for child. Thus Ezekiel says of Israel,

“And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut,

neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee: thou was not salted at all,

nor swaddled at all” (Ezekiel 16:4).

In other words, because of Israel’s wickedness they have been abandoned and not cared for.

Perhaps the reason Luke gave us this small detail about Mary swaddling her baby was to help us realize how much she loved this child and to let us know He was well cared for.

To learn more about all the symbols of Christmas

and read an amazing blog,

go here.

To all a good night!

days 4, 5 & 6....

day 4;

Luke 2:8

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

*A little sheppard boy kneeling on one knee, with a satchel over his shoulder,

and he is holding a little lamb.

day 5;

Luke 2:9-10

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

*a beautiful little angel girl in a crimson colored dress.

day 6;

Luke 2: 13-14

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

*one of the 3 kings, bringing a gift for the baby Jesus.

I am still enjoying opening a gift each and every day,

and this morning when I woke up at 2:oo a.m.

I opened my gift for today because it was officially today, right?!

yep

Yesterday,

this little basket of gifts was dropped off at my home,

and was waiting for me when I walked in the door,

with a cute little note that read.....

How fun is that!!!!

I seriously about pee'd my pants with the thought of getting to open a gift for

10 days in a row!

10 days people, how exciting is that!

What other mom gets to do that???

I never have!

10......10 gifts of love....

thank you Amy and Shona!

sweet. sweeter. sweetest.

.

....finally.....

all the stockings are hung....

now, I just hope St. Nicholas can make it!

But,

I do love when 'Barbie' and 'The Wise Men' can hang together outside the stables,

and still love and honour baby Jesus...

Another year of Thanks....

From our family to your....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I am so grateful for days like today!!!!

it has got to be one of my favorites days

it seems like everything is how it should be...

FAMILY.

my family is home together,

I love my family.

the weather took a chill last night and it feels so good,

the house is warm

I love the Christmas music softly playing,

the little ones are playing games,

I love the smell and lights of the tree,

I set up one of my Christmas trees earlier this week,

I started a new tradition this year,

I'm doing 3 trees,

the big one in the front room,

the kids tree upstairs

and

my new tree,

I did a tree of Christmas cards from past years,

I love receiving family Christmas cards but I can never throw them away,

there always too sweet....

so

now you all are on my tree,

so

send me this year's cards so I can add you to my tree,

it's so fun to see you all up there

and especially from year to year....

can you find yourself???

I love making the turkey and after all these years living in Texas,

Kurt and I have it down to perfection....

the turkey smells delicious,

I just love the feel of today...

I love taking a nap after lunch,

and I love watching all the fun movies that come on tv,

I love that it's just a 'family day'

a day for families,

with nothing else happening,

nothing else on the 'to do list'

a day of just being together

happy together.....

.....that's what I'm thankful for.

.

.

and

I love to hear the girls laughing and just being sisters.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Remember my wrapping paper dilemma?

....problem solved!

Merry Christmas to all...

and to all a good-night!

I can't believe we finally got a white Christmas!

okay, now I'm really excited for Christmas...

I just found my favorite color wrapping paper...

turquoise!!!

Merry Christmas!

(but now, I don't want to wrap gifts, just the thought of it being ripped off presents and thrown away makes me shutter.....

I just want to sit and stare at it!)